Toledo General Dentistry

Learn More About His General Dentistry Offerings

Toledo general dentistry describes the type of dentistry performed by your primary dentist and encompasses an array of services and procedures that aim to help you preserve your teeth and keep them looking and feeling great.

A general dentist will diagnose, treat, and manage the overall health of your mouth, including proper gum care and preventive education. At Signature Smiles, a variety of different procedures and services fall under the umbrella of Toledo general dentistry. These include:

• Comprehensive exams
• Oral cancer screenings
• Oral hygiene checks
• X-rays
• Fluoride treatments
• Periodontal therapy
• Fluoride treatments
• Mouthguards
• TMJ treatments
• Anesthesia
• Sleep apnea treatment
• Emergency care

What happens at a check-up and cleaning

A routine visit has two halves. The hygienist scales away the plaque and tartar that brushing cannot reach, particularly below the gumline and between the back teeth, then polishes the surfaces. Dr. Schweizer then examines every tooth, checks the gums for pockets and bleeding, feels the jaw joint and lymph nodes, and screens the soft tissue for anything that needs a closer look. If x-rays are due, they are taken and reviewed with you on screen. Why regular dental visits matter explains what those six-month appointments actually catch.

Why six months

Six months is the interval at which most problems are still small enough to fix cheaply. Decay found early is a filling; the same tooth left for two years is often a crown or a root canal. Gum disease follows the same pattern, and the early stage is the only stage that reverses completely. The stages of gum disease sets out where that line falls. Some patients need three or four-month intervals instead, usually because of gum history, grinding or dry mouth.

Preventive treatments

Fluoride varnish hardens the enamel surface and is useful for anyone with a history of decay, not just children. Sealants fill the deep grooves in back teeth where a toothbrush bristle cannot reach. A custom nightguard protects the teeth of anyone who grinds, and a sports mouthguard does the same on the field. See why a sports mouthguard matters and what causes teeth grinding.

Gum care and periodontal therapy

Bleeding when you brush is not normal and is usually the first sign of gum inflammation. Caught at that point, a thorough cleaning and a better home routine will settle it. Once the infection has reached the bone, treatment moves to scaling and root planing and closer monitoring. Treatment for periodontal disease explains the options, and four ways to avoid gum recession covers prevention.

Oral cancer screening

Every examination includes a check of the tongue, floor of the mouth, palate, cheeks and throat, and a feel of the neck and jaw. It takes a minute and it is the part of the appointment patients notice least. Anything that has not healed in two weeks gets looked at again.

Nervous patients

Plenty of people have not seen a dentist in years because of a bad experience somewhere else. We would rather see you late than not at all, and the first visit can be a conversation and an examination with nothing else done. Dental anxiety and preventive care explains how we approach it.

Your routine at home

Brush for two minutes twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss once a day, and keep sugar to mealtimes rather than grazing through the day. Why some people get cavities and others do not covers the factors you cannot control, and the link between oral hygiene and immune health covers why it is worth the effort.

Book an appointment in Toledo

Signature Smiles is at 3060 W. Sylvania Ave. in Toledo and sees patients from Sylvania, Ottawa Hills, Maumee and across Northwest Ohio. We are open Monday to Thursday from 8am to 5pm and Friday morning from 9am to 1pm. Get in touch to book, or read what to expect as a new patient before your first visit.